Exploration of Bio-synthesized Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Pterolobium hexapetalum Leaf Extract by Photocatalytic Activity and Biological Evaluations

Abstract

In the present investigation, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were efficiently synthesized by Pterolobium hexapetalum leaf extract. The synthesized CuO NPs were characterized by various spectral and microscopic techniques such as UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction investigation (XRD), and field emission-scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The UV–visible spectrum of CuO NPs exhibited maximum absorption at 274 nm and the FT-IR spectrum, the band appeared at 502 cm−1 for CuO NPs. XRD, TEM, and EDX studies confirmed the formation of CuO NPs, which were predominantly spherical in shape with the particle size 10–50 nm. The photocatalytic efficiency of the green synthesized CuO NPs was verified by the reactive black-5 dye within 2 h UV light irradiation which proved the photocatalytic activity of nanoparticles in water treatment. The biosynthesized CuO NPs was found to possess effective antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus (15 mm), Bacillus subtilis (15 mm), Escherichia coli (14 mm), and anticancer activity (human breast cancer cells:) with striking inhibitions and cell death and the apoptotic activity of MDA-MB-231 cell line through reactive oxygen species generation. Hence, the greener approach synthesis of CuO NPs may be used as a potential catalytic and chemotherapeutic agent.